River Hospital Provides Outpatient Program for Soldiers with PTSD

When River Hospital, Alexandria Bay, N.Y., identified an unmet mental health need for active duty military members of the community, it opened a community wellness program to address the post traumatic stress disorder treatment needs of the soldiers at nearby Fort Drum.

The mission of the River Community Wellness Program is to provide high quality, trauma informed, interdisciplinary and intensive psychiatric day treatment to members of the armed forces in order to reduce the need for hospitalization and ease the transition after hospitalization. In addition to the clinical benefits, the proximity to Fort Drum allows the soldiers to remain in the area with their families, which is especially important in their treatment.

Being the first outpatient treatment of its kind for active duty military members, this program is significant in caring for individuals reintegrating from inpatient care and also averts potential inpatient admissions for treatment.

This case study is part of the NYS Triple Aim series highlighting how New York hospitals are improving health, enhancing quality and reducing costs. Hospitals, nursing homes, and home care agencies across New York State are pursuing the Triple Aim. In spite of fiscal constraints, its members are embracing the challenge of transforming health care and are implementing new and innovative approaches to delivery.